Hibiscus plant named ‘Sparkle’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Sparkle’, characterized by its upright, somewhat, outwardly spreading and dense and bushy plant habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large white-colored flowers with red purple-colored centers and venation; and good flower longevity.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus moscheutos.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SPARKLE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscusplant, botanically known as Hibiscus moscheutos, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Sparkle’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new compact Hibiscus plants withattractive and large flowers.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from a self-pollination in August,2007 in De Kwakel, The Netherlands of Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Mauvelous’,not patented. The new Hibiscus plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the statedself-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel,The Netherlands in July, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, TheNetherlands since May, 2009, has shown that the unique features of thisnew Hibiscus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sparkle’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Sparkle’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofHibiscus:

-   -   1. Upright, somewhat, outwardly spreading and dense and bushy        plant habit.    -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Large white-colored flowers with red purple-colored centers        and venation.    -   5. Good flower longevity.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the parent,‘Mauvelous’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of‘Mauvelous’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus have slightly lighter        green-colored leaves than plants of ‘Mauvelous’.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Mauvelous’ differ        in color as plants of ‘Mauvelous’ have pink-colored flowers.    -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus have white-colored flower styles        whereas plants of ‘Mauvelous’ have pale pink-colored flower        styles.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can also be compared to plants of theHibiscus hybrida ‘Oak Red’, filed concurrently in a U.S. Plant patentapplication. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of‘Oak Red’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more upright than plants of        ‘Oak Red’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus have ovate-shaped leaves whereas        plants of ‘Oak Red’ have oakleaf-shaped leaves.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Oak Red’ differ in        color as plants of ‘Oak Red’ have red-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Hibiscus plant, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Hibiscus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view oftypical flowering plants of ‘Sparkle’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflower of ‘Sparkle’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in De Kwakel, The Netherlands infive-liter containers in a glass-covered greenhouses during the summerunder conditions which closely approximate commercial Hibiscusproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures rangedfrom 18° C. to 33° C. and night temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 25°C. Plants were 16 weeks old when the photographs and the descriptionwere taken. In the description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Sparkle’.-   Parentage: Self-pollination of Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Mauvelous,’ not    patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven days at            temperatures of 22° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten days at            temperatures of 19° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures of 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures of 18° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white to            light brown in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright, somewhat outwardly            spreading and dense and bushy plant habit; moderately            vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about 15 lateral            branches develop; pinching enhances lateral branch            development.        -   Plant height.—About 60.4 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 77.5 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 49.1 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 6 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 5.3 cm.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, waxy.        -   Color.—Between 144C and 145A with waxy layer close to 144D.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.        -   Length.—About 12.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 8.3 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Crenate, slightly undulate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Densely pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than N137D; venation,            close to 144A and 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 144B to 144C.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 8.6 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Large rotate flowers arranged singly at            terminal leaf axils or in terminal clusters; uniform,            continuous and freely flowering habit with numerous flower            buds and/or open flowers per plant at one time; flowers face            mostly upright to slightly outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower longevity.—Good flower longevity, flowers last for            about four days; flowers not persistent.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower from late summer            until the autumn in The Netherlands.        -   Flower diameter.—About 18.5 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 5.6 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Rate of opening: Flowers buds open in about four            days. Length: About 5.7 cm. Diameter: About 3.9 cm. Shape:            Ovate. Color: Between 144B and 145A; towards the apex, close            to 155A to 155B.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five petals that            are fused at base; petals imbricate. Length: About 9.5 cm.            Width: About 9.2 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate to flabellate.            Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened,            upper surface: Close to NN155C to NN155D; towards the base,            close to 63B; venation, close to 63B; color becoming closer            to 155C with development. When opening and fully opened,            lower surface: Close to NN155C to NN155D; towards the base,            close to 63B to 63C; venation, close to 63B to 63C.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a tubular            star-shaped calyx. Length: About 3.8 cm. Width: About            2.2 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144B. Color, mature,            upper surface: Between 144A and 145A. Color, mature, lower            surface: Close to 143C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Angle: About 45° from the lateral branch axis. Strength:            Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close            to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,            about 120. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament color:            Close to 155D. Anther shape: Orbicular. Anther length: About            2 mm. Anther color: Close to 8D. Amount of pollen: Moderate.            Pollen color: Close to 8B. Gynoecium: Pistil length: About            4.9 cm. Style length: About 4.1 cm. Style texture: Smooth,            waxy. Style color: Close to 155D. Stigma appearance:            Five-parted, rounded. Stigma color: Close to 160C to 160D.            Ovary color: Close to 150C.        -   Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed    to have tolerate temperatures from about −20° C. to about 40° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hibiscus.

1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Sparkle’ as illustrated anddescribed.